Microscope fine adjustment



J. C. KURTZ ET AL MICROSCOPE FINE ADJUSTMENT Aug. 7, 1,951

2 snee'ns-shee-i Vl Filed sept. 1:5, 1947 vidal@ Jol-m C. Kunrz EL, BWNHARDQSZLASCH Gnome;

J. C. KURTZ ET AL MIcRoscoPE FINE ADJUSTMENT 'Aug. 7, 19.51-

Filed Sept. 13, 1947 :inventors JOHN C. KURTZ a, BERNHARDT G.GA|.L.Asc|-| Patented Aug. 7`, 1951 Gtallaschi Rochester', N-

assignors to Bausch & Lomb Optical Qompan'yl Rcleste, N. Y., a

corporatiqn' of New York Application September 13, 1.947;v Seria/INU. 773,864:

(ci. fzs-f3.9).

10 crains'.

This invention relates to microscopes and Indre particularly to ane adjustment focusing Ineclianism` therefor.

One of the objects of this invention is to, pro,- vide a novel fine adjustment mechanism for microscopes which is simple and compact in structure, easy to assemble, and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object to provide a relatively simple form of such a device which operates from a low position on a microscope without baclglash throughout the entire range of motion df its focusing member.

It is still another object to provide suclr a device in which the coarsev adjustrnent` mechanism and iine adjustment mechanism are cooperatively associated and have some of their partsk in com mon.

A further object is to provide in a microscope' a iine adjustment mechanism wherein srnaljl movements are transmitted by a lever and copper# ating torque limiting means.

Further objects and advantages will be ape parent to those skilled in this art by reference tc the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side View, partly in sec; tion, of a microscope embodying a preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on, the broken line2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig..3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section,` of a secv ond embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a perspective exploded View of certain details of the ne adjustment mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the torque limiting connection,

Fig. 7. is a view taken on the line 'If-.1 ofj Fig. 6,; and

Fig. 8 a View of a further mddication or the torque limiting connection.

In the preferred formof the invention, the microscope comprises a. base I0, a support Il pivotally mounted at` l2' and a lensvtube |31 vSlidably mounted on the support arm. For inoc-v ing the lens tube I3v relative to the arm ll, a coarse adjustment mechanism is piovded includ* ing; a rack I4. attached. to the loris tube I3. and meshed with a pinion l5, xed to an operating. shaft I6 which is rotatably iournalcd in the alim I l. Coarse adjustment operating shaft t6. is ex-` tended at both ends beyond thc arm ist so' that suitable knobs. Il and l1 may locilxcld thereto for rotating. thoshaft.A For the purpose. of re. InovitlsA backlash from thc rack. and; pinion. con.-` nection, the shaft ll` is solel-ysupported in` an eccentric bushing I8 which is rotatably tted within a bearing sleeve IIS) fixed in the.` arm It. Qperhended` slots 2c in the end of the. eccentric bushing afford means for its rotation during removal of;V backlash after` ther knob Il."V is removed. The hole inthesupporting arm l-| throughwhichv the knob Il projectsl ismade considerably larger than the Shank: of thc knob So.- aS- to avoid contact when the eccentric bushing is beingA adjusted-r The` support arm I- I.- has ahollow recess; 2t, extending substantially throughout its fai-lli length, inwhiclo the fine adiustmcnt mechanism of.y this; invention is enclosed and protected.

According to-this invention, the fine adjustment mechanism comprises aA principal` lever 22 which is loosely journaled on a cylindrical surface 23; 01.1. the knob l1 adjacentA thc.- pinion t5. and eXf tends downwardly through the. hollow recess 21; to, its,y actuating means near the bottom off the arm il. A torque limiting connection or frictionclutch of any preferred form may` be u sed loe;-` tween` the; lcvcr 22 and the Shaft, |65. but: the. torque capacity o f` the connection is limited*A so that upon rotation of,l the coarse adjustment knobsl1 and Hf, the connection willj slip readily. In this form. ofV the; invention? the connection comprises. a clutch lever 2.4 loosely,` iournalcds on. the extension '23f closelyadi acer-1t to thcprinci-nall lover 212i and pvotcd tol thc lattcr. hy a fulcrumV or pivot pin 25 anchored on lever; 22. The fric tion clutchismade effective by, biasing the clutch lever 24 relative` tothe principal lever Z2 around the` fiulcrum pin 2.5,. thus, in eiect, clamping the shaft t6 between the two levers.

suitable` biasing member may. bel applied to the free end of the clutch lever 2t!A for biasing itI in a direction to. preload the frictional clutch connection, but in. its preferred form, as. shown Figs. 1 and 2f, the. mechanism. consists of a', spring ZGhaVing a modulus. of` elasjticity-v s 'uch asgto satisfy the preloading function.v The spring]l is placed under stress. between the lever' mechanism and arm ll, soa's` to` biasl said. lever about thefulcrum pini 25. The spring may be of any desired forni. such; as the cantilever spring 2li,` one end 0f which. iS' anchored in hole 2,1 in the frcc. and of. the. clutch lever 24 While. the other cod of. the spring presses forcibly againstV thel inner Wall of the recess. 2L

Principal lever Z2.` is extended downwardly, Within. the, recess 2J into .cooperative pooitiori. Witithlc. actuating, means which may bc O 'f' any desired form but is here shown as comprising a radial cam 28 which is fixedly mounted on an actuating shaft 29 journaled in the arm Il and rotated by the fine adjustment knobs 30 and 39 fixed thereto. The arrangement of spring 26 not only provides a pre-loading force for the friction clutch, but also urges the free end of lever 22 into engagement with the cam 2B. Stop means of any desired form may be used to limit rotation of the shaft 29 such as the stop pin 3I which is xed in the arm II so as to project into a circular groove 32 athwart the plane of rotation of a iixed abutmentpin 33 in knob 30.

To insure that the free end of the principal lever is prevented from lateral displacement on the surface of the radial cam 28, the former is provided with guiding means comprising a recessed contact face 34, slightly wider than the cam 28, wherein the cam rides. Since lever 22 is greatly elongated, it provides an operating leverage between the actuating means and the operating shaft I6 0f great mechanical advantage so that relatively large movements of the end of lever 22 will move the lens tube I3 easily and smoothly through exceedingly small increments. This structure also gives the added advantage of a low position ne adjustment which allows the operatorv to focus the instrument while his hands rest on the table.

The fine adjustment mechanism is effectively protected against mechanical injury or entrance of foreign matter by securing a conforming cover plate 35 across the recess 2l on the inner face of the arm I I. The cover plate may be held in place by any suitable means such as screws 35.

When operating the fine adjustment mechanisrn. of this form of the invention, rotation of ably presses the free end of the lever 40 against cam 4I.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the frictional connection includes a clutch lever`4A'5 but it is journaled directly on the shaft I6 and lever bushings 46 may be used in the mounting holes of both` of said leversif desired. Fixed to the principal lever 40 is a fulcrum stud 41"on which the clutch lever 45 is pivotally held whereby the clutch lever 45 can be biased relative to the principal lever 40 to establish a cooperative frictional grip therebeween on shaft I6. As here disclosed, the free end of clutch lever 45 is biased by a suitable clutch spring 48 anchored `at one end on a retaining stud 49 fixed to lever 40 and held under bending stress by a fixed pin i 5I in the lever 40 and a fixed pin 52 in the free from the coarse adjustmentshaft I6. It is understood that lever 53 extends downwardly within the arm so that the free end thereof engages a rotatable cam such as shown in Figs.

the cam 28 by the knobs 30 and 30 causes the l free end of the principal level 22 to swing about the axis of the coarse adjustment shaft i6 and rotate said shaft by means of the frictional connection through an identical angular displacement of small magnitude -which is carried through the pinion and rack connection to raise and lower the lens tube However, when the coarse adjustment mechanism is operated by turning knobs I1 and I1', the principal lever 22 is held stationary by the spring 26 and cam 2B and slippage occurs in the frictional connection between the lever 22 and operating shaft I6. The strength of the spring 26 and the location of the fulcrum'pin 25 for the clutch lever 24 are so chosen that a reliable torsional connection is established between the lever 22 rand the shaft I6 while limiting the torsional value of the connection so as to permit the knoby Il to be rotated easily and smoothly when coarse adjustments are made.

The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and is in general appearance and utility similar to the first embodiment. All those parts of the microscope which are the same in both embodiments are given corresponding identifying numerals. In this embodiment, the ne adjustment mechanism comprises a principal level 49 loosely journaled directly on the shaft I6 and extending downwardly through the recess 2l in the support arm II to a radial type actuating cam 4I on which the free end of the lever rests The cam is rotated by an actuating shaft 42 to which is attached the actuating knobs 43. A suitable spring 44 anchored at one end in the recess 2l of arm II is so placed that its other end yield- 1 and 4. For communicating motion of the lever 53 to the shaft I6, a lever connection and friction clutch for gripping shaft I6 of any desired forni may 'be employed but, as here shown, a unitary construction is chosen which provides a compound lever between the shaft I5 and its actuating means. In this construction, a connecting lever 55 is seated by means of the V- shaped recess 56 upon the shaft I6 and is held thereon by a clamping strip 51 and clamping screw 51. The clamping strip 51, which may be of spring material if desired, is formed with a reverse bend 58, the end of which is held in a notch 58 in lever 55 thus providing a pivotal anchorage therefor. The amount of torque transmitted through the friction clutch to the shaft I6 may be governed by the pressure setting of the screw 51. The other end of the lever 55 is moved by ann actuating stud 59 fixed on the principal lever 53, said stud having a snug sliding t within anV elongated slot 60 in the lever 55. In locating the actuating stud 59 on lever 53, a leverage position relative to the pivot stud 54 is chosen so that the compound lever, provided by the assembly of levers 53 and 55, has the desired degree of `power. Adjustment of the freedom of the sliding t between the stud 59 and slot 60 vis preferably effected by the adjusting screw 60'.. j

In operation, movement of the lower end of the lever 53 by its actuating means about the pivot stud 54 causes the actuating stud 59 to rise and fall thus carrying the lever 55 in a swinging motion of very slight magnitude which is imparted to the shaft I6 through the friction clutch, whereby a fine adjustment mechanism is provided for the lens tube I3. By reason of the cooperative action of levers 53 and 55, a compound lever is provided by which more delicate focusing movements of the lens tubeV can be accomplished than are possible with the other forms of this invention. Y 'Y In Fig. 8 of the drawings, a modified form of frictional clutch is shown in which the principal lever 22 forms no part of the clutch'. The clutch includes a bifurcated body member 6I journaled on the shaft l`6= closely adjacent the lever member 22" and connected tothe lever 22 for rotation in unison therewith solely` bya shear pin E2. BetweenL the fur-'cations 63` offthe body member Gill, a colla-r 6,41 isY loosely journaled on the shaft I-6`. Collardis provided with a suitable indentatior-r in its peripheral surface in which a mating detent 65k is forcibly seated by the action of a compression spring 66. Means for varying the amount of pressure between the active frictional surfaces ofthe collar 64, the furcations 63, and the shaft I-B are preferably supplied by a` screw 6Fl# bearing against the end ofthe spring 6B.

When the lever 21:2l is swung about the axisv of the shaft te, itsmotion istransmitted through the shear pin E2 tothe body member 6|- anddetent' 65 to the collar 64. Inasmuch` as the mutually opposite forces established by' spring 6E- on the collar 6f`4` and furcations` 63- set up a frictionali drag force on thesha-ft l6`, themove ment'offlever member 22 causes rotation of said` throughout the range of adjustment of the instrument in accordance with the objects of thisinvention. While the novel fine adjustment mechanism has been shown asapplied to a microscope for effecting focusingadjustments of the lens tube, it isl obvious that it could be equally well applied to microscopes in which the focusing adjustments are-made'by moving the stage rather than.` .the1 lens: tube;

Although but certain embodiments of this invention havefbeen shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and changes may be made in the form andt arrangement ofv the parts and substitutions may be made therein" without departing from the spirit of the* invention as defined in theappended claims in which We claim:

L The; combination in a microscope having; a movable lensv tube' and a rotatable shaft operatively connected thereto by which coarse ad* justments are imparted to the tube of a principal lever having one end carried by and journaled coaxially with said shaft, a clutch lever carried by and journaled coaxially with said shaft adjacent said principal lever, said clutch lever being pivotally connected to the principal lever, means for biasing the clutch lever about its pivotal connection to establish a torsional connection between said principal lever and said shaft, and actuating means for moving the other end of said principal lever whereby ne adjustments of said lens tube may be effected.

2. In a microscope having a support, a member slidably mounted thereon for focusing adjustments and a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said member and operatively connected thereto for effecting coarse adjustments thereof, the combination of a compound lever pivoted at one end on said support adjacent said member, a frictional clutch operatively connecting one end portion of said lever to said shaft, the clutch being in constant engagement with the shaft but permitting slippage when the shaft is moved to effect :iinefadjustmcnts and actuating means' applied at the other endl of the compound lever for effecting minutel movements thereof whereby hne adjustmentsl of said member may be effected. t j

31. A microscope having a hollow support arm; a lens tube slidablyV supported on the upper end of said arm, a rotatable shaft journaled` in` they upper part of saidf arm. andi operatively connected to move said lens tube, means for ef.- fecti-ngtne adjustments ofthe tube comprising combination an elongated lever extending downwardly' and. interiorally ofV said: arm and journaledf'at its upper. end4 about said shaft, a fulcrumf, pin4 nxedon said lever, a clutch lever journaled at one end1 about said shaft and pivotally connected 'tosai'd fulcrum pin adjacent said. elongated lever; and a. spring. anchored. on'.` sai'd` elongated lever. and bearing forcibly on the other end'V off said clutch lever to apply a` turning. moment: theretovaboutY the fulcrum pin whereby the'. elongated lever is clutched to said shaft; and. actuating means mounted on the` lower part ofthe armfor moving the lower end ofthe' elongated'leven whereby the lens tube may be.v moved forne adjustment focusing.

4f. A microscope having a hollow support arm, a1 lens,v tube slidablyV supported onl the upper end of said arm, a rotatable shaft journaled in the upper part of said arm and operatively connected. to move saidlens tubeL means for effecting` fine; adjustment of the tube comprising a cylindrical surface fixed concentrical-ly on said shaft, a` principal lever loosely journaled at its upper. end on said surface interiorally of said arm, a clutch lever loosely journaled at one end` on said surface adjacent the principal lever, a pivot. pin xedto the` principalA lever, said clutch lever being in pivotal engagament with said pin an actuating member for moving the lower end of. saidV principal lever, and resilient means bearing` againstthefree end. of said clutch lever and, reacting with` said` support arm for causing the clutch lever to torsionally grip the shaft and. coincidentally force the lower end of` the elongated lever against ther actuating. member wherebyoperationofthe actuating member. will effect ne adjustmentof the lens tube.

5;."In a. microscope having a supportarm, a lens tube slidably supportedM on the upper` end of'said' arm, a rotatable shaft journaled in said` arm andY .operatively connected to move said; tube, theV combination ofv means for effecting fine adjustment of said tube including a cylindrical surface concentrically on and rotatable with said shaft, a principal lever rotatably mounted at its upper end on said surface, a pivot stud fixed to said lever, a clutch lever rotatably mounted on said surface along the side of the principal lever and pivotally engaged with said` stud, spring means for biasing the clutch lever relative to the principal lever about said stud so as to grip said surface between said levers, a rotatable cam operatively positioned :at the lower end of said principal lever for imparting motion thereto, and an actuating shaft fixed to said cam and journaled in said arm whereby rotation of the cam produces ne adjustments of the lens tube.

6. In a microscope having a support arm, a lens tube slidably supported on the upper end of said arm, a rotatable shaft journaled in said arm and operatively connected to move said tube, the combination of means for effecting ne adjustment of said tube including, a principal lever a-seavaa having its'upper end rotatably carried A'by the'- shaft, a pivot stud fixed to said lever, a clutch lever rotatably carried by the shaft along thel side of the principal lever and pivotally engaged with said stud, spring means for biasing the clutch lever relative to the principal lever about said stud so as to grip said shaft between said levers, an actuating shaft rotatably journaled in the lower part of said arm, a cam xed on the actuating shaft in operative contact with the lower end of said principal lever, and guiding means on the contact face at the lower end ofk the principal levercooperating with said cam to prevent relative lateral displacement therewith, whereby actuation of rsaid cam effects fine adjustments of said lens tube.

7. In a microscope having a hollow support arm, a movable 'member slidably supported'on said arm, a rotatablel shaft journaled in said arm adjacent said member and operatively connected to move said member, the combination of means for effecting ne adjustment of said member comprising a cylindrical surface fixed concentrically on said shaft. a compound lever pivotally mounted at one end on said surface within said arm, a preloaded 'torque limiting connection operatively and permanently connecting said compound lever and said surface to transmit motion of said lever to said shaft, a spring for preloading said torque limiting connection, cam means operatively positioned in `contact with the other end of said compound lever and means for moving the cam means for imparting motion to the lever whereby ne adjustment motions are'transmitted to the movable member.

8. In a microscope having a hollow support arm, a member slidably mounted thereon for focusing adjustments and a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent the member and operatively connected thereto for effecting coarse adjustments thereof, the combination of a lever positioned within the arm and having its upper end pivotally carried by the arm adjacent the member, a frictional clutch connection permanently and operatively connecting the lever to said shaft, the clutch connection being in constant engagement with the shaft b ut permitting slippage when the shaft is moved to effect ne adjustments, rotatable cam means carried by the lower part of the arm, said cam means being in operative engagement with the lower end of the lever whereby rotation of the-'cam means will effect a fine adjustment of the member.

j 9.7Irna microscope having :a hollow arm, a.l lens tube slidablymounted thereon for. focusingV and the shaft, a cam rotatably mounted within the lower part of the Aarm with the cam in operative engagement with the lower end of the principal lever whereby rotation of the cam willV produce ne adjustments of the lens tube.

10.v A microscope having a support arm, a lens tube slidably carried by the arm, a shaft rotatably carried'by the arm adjacent the tube, means operatively connecting the tube Vto the shaft whereby the shaft may be Vrotated to produce coarse adjustments of thelens tube for focusing, a vartically disposed lever having its upper end pivotally carried bythe arm, frictional clutch means-permanently and operatively connecting the. upper endV of the lever to'said shaft, theclutch means being in constantengagement with the shaft but permitting slippage when the shaftY is moved to effect coarse adjustments, and means for moving the lower end of the lever for producing small angular movements of said shaft to effect ne focusing adjustments of said lens tube. JOI-IN C. KURTZ; BERNHARDT G. GALLASCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: f Y' Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,488,118 Hill et al. Mar. 25, 1924 1,984,127 Gallasch Dec. 11, 1934 Y y FOREIQN PATENTS Number Country Date France June 24, 1935 

